Many thanks to the Ellensburg Public Library for ... · 19th • Sun. • 9-11am • Feel the Burn #2: Scabs, Scars and Regeneration in Burned Areas. Compare burned and unburned patches

kittitas audubon • www.kittitasaudubon.orgThe Hooter • Kittitas Audubon’s Newsletter

All Audubon meetings, held on the 3rd Thursday of each month, 7:00pm, September through May (except December), at the Hal Holmes Center next to the Ellensburg Public Library, are open to the public. Please come and meet with us, and stay afterwards for juice, treats, and conversation.

Many thanks to the Ellensburg Public Library for sponsoring our meetings!

May 2019

Thursday, May 16th General Meeting • 7:00pm

Birding Trinidad and Tobago, from the Asa Wright Nature Centre Home to 482 species of bird, not forgetting 68 different bats, 45 snakes, 50 spiders, 30 frogs and toads, 120 Dragonflies, 765 butterflies and close to 3,500 moths - the islands really are an introduction to the natural history of South America. Get a great taste of tropical birding in Trinidad’s high mountain rain forests, sandy beaches with nesting turtles, and mangroves with Scarlet Ibis evening roosts, as well as on Tobago’s seabird nesting islands and huge protected preserves. The Asa Wright Nature Centre is a jumping off spot for most field trips, itself set in 200 acres of forest and home to more than 170 bird species. Renowned for great access to specialties including Bearded Bellbird, Tufted Coquette and Oilbirds on site, more than 40 species can be observed from the verandah before breakfast! The Centre is a not-for-profit trust, and eco-tourism funds the conservation and education programmes. For nearly 40 years of the Centre’s 50 plus year existence, Caligo Ventures has been the booking agent for North America. Fully committed to the conservation and education mission of the Centre, Caligo is pleased to sponsor Martyn’s visit to celebrate and highlight this bucket-list birding destination.

Martyn Kenefick Having been an avid birder since early teens, Martyn moved to Trinidad in 1999 and spent the next 15 years working as a bird tour leader for a number of companies, guiding in Trinidad & Tobago and many other countries. In 2007, he became the main author of the Birds of Trinidad & Tobago Field Guide, the 3rd edition of which will be published early in 2019. Martyn joined the Board of Management of the non-profit Asa Wright Nature Centre in 2015 and is now Chair of the Conservation & Education Committee.

KAS is looking for an enthusiastic

individual to fill this board position:

Vice PresidentPlease email

Judy Hallisey: [email protected] if you are interested.

Photo credit: Martyn Kenefick

PRESIDENT Judy Hallisey ................270.792.9188

VICE PRESIDENT Open Position .........contact us!

SECRETARY Jim Briggs .....................509.933.2231

TREASURER Sharon Lumsden .........509.968.3889

CLIMATE CHANGE Barry Brunson ..............270.792.9186

CONSERVATION Norm Peck ....................509.933.4233

EDUCATION Steve Hall ......................509.925.4877

FIELD TRIPS Steve Moore ..................509.933.1179

HISTORIAN Gloria Lindstrom ..........509.925.1807

MEMBERSHIP Kris Kaylor .....................509.304.4103

PAST PRESIDENT Tom Gauron ..................509.968.3175

PROGRAMS Lesley McGalliard .........509.933.2812

PUBLICITY Meghan Anderson .......253.987.7629

SCHOLARSHIPS Gloria Baldi ...................509.933.1558

NEWSLETTER Kris Kaylor .....................509.304.4103

* BLUEBIRD BOXES Jan Demorest .............509.933.1179

* SOCIAL GREETER Kay Forsythe ...............509.925.2356

* CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT Phil Mattocks

KAS Board Meetings are held at 4:30pm on the 1st Thursday of each month at the Methodist Church across from The Ellensburg Library. These meetings are open to the public and all Audubon members—please come and join in the discussions. Meetings adjourn by 6:00 or 6:30pm, then we all go out for a sociable dinner—NO business discussion allowed! *Non-voting members

Board Members

The Hooter • May 2019 • Kittitas Audubon’s Newsletter2

Thank you!A huge thank you to all who made the art sale on april 18th a success!

We could not have done it without the donations from so many giving members and the generosity of those who bought the various items, often adding extra

dollars for the benefit of KAS education activities and CWU scholarships.

The event was well advertised, but the attendance was about half of those anticipated. However, more than $1300 was raised on the sale of items while

we learned of snakes being protected on roadways, and enjoyed KAS 30th birthday cake.

A special thanks to the committee of Diane Gauron, Jan Demorest, Gloria Lindstrom and Gloria Baldi for the many hours sorting, pricing and preparing for the sale.

Such terrific help!

By Gloria Baldi

A summary of the April 4th KAS Board meeting follows:

Although the Board did not have a quorum at this meeting, the events of April were discussed, i.e., leaders for April First Saturday BirdWalk, April 21st ranger walk at Ginkgo State Park, and the April Art Sale. Additonal Board items were as follows.

Lesley McGalliard was appointed as Program Chair

Jan Demorest volunteered to be a nominee for Vice President for the coming year. The full slate of candidates, plus any further nominations are to be voted for confirmation in May. The candidates are: Judy Hallisey (President), Jan Demorest (VP), Jim Briggs (Secretary), and Sharon Lumsden (Treasurer). Please note, nominations are still being accepted.

‘Last notice’ mailing labels for National Audubon members were on the April Hooter. To continue receiving a paper Hooter, National members must notify KAS through an email or phone call, or send local membership dues of $20.

KAS is in need of suggestions next year’s programs. Please call Lesley McGalliard with your ideas/interests.

Steve Hall, Education Chair will be presenting to all Ellensburg School District students in May. (HE NEEDS ASSISTANTS! DO YOU HAVE AN INTERST IN WORKING WITH CHILDREN? PLEASE CALL HIM TO HELP!)

National Audubon has an improved site that is easier to use regarding Native Plants for Birds.

Two events requesting KAS participation could not be accommodated because Barry Brunson could not staff the tables. No other volunteers were available. (THIS IS ANOTHER NEED FOR VOLUNTEER HELP.)

KAS, with 70 additional organizations, signed the Legacy Roads and Trails proposal. The proposal asks for renewed federal funding for: (1) Maintaining and/or storm-proofing nearly 2298 miles of needed roads, helping Washingtonians get where they wish to go on Forest Service lands; (2) Reclaiming 313 miles of unneeded roads, preventing sediment from entering streams, many of which supply drinking water to rural and urban towns and cities; (3) Restoring fish passage at 55 stream crossings, boosting opportunity for Washington’s $1.1B sport-fishing industry and advancing salmon restoration goals; and (4) Improving 105 miles of trails, keeping the $535M National Forest recreation industry going strong.

Join us May 2nd at 4:30 across from the Library to help us make decisions by adding your thoughts to our discussions.

kittitas audubon • www.kittitasaudubon.org 3

April 19th

Umptanum Road by Steve Moore

Seven of us spent a sunny-to-partly-cloudy spring morning finding birds in the Umptanum Road sageland and creek-side woods. We tallied 25 species. Mountain Bluebirds are getting active around the Yakima Valley Audubon boxes along the road; we saw a few females with nesting grass in their beaks. A couple of pairs of Western Bluebirds were around in the sageland too. Of sage-inhabiting birds, Vesper and Brewer’s Sparrows and Sage Thrashers were plentiful, and we got great views from the car windows of close-in thrashers, singing their hearts out from bush tops. Groups of singing White-crowned Sparrows foretell of the number that will be migrating through our area in the next weeks. The other conspicuous migrants were small flocks of Yellow-rumped Warblers in bright spring plumage – another harbinger of a migration wave happening soon. The warblers were doing their fly-catching bit from bushes and trees. We stopped for short walks on side roads, and then focused on the open forest area at the start of the Umptanum Falls trailhead, where lots of birds were moving through trees and brush. Here we saw & heard chickadees, goldfinches, towhees, robin, and both Red- and White-breasted Nuthatches, the latter giving us its distinctive flutey warble from a pine trunk that we were able to confirm on a phone app. Along the way, we saw ravens, kestrels, and harriers of both plumages – and maybe a Redtail but at great distance aloft, that would be #26!

Spotted Towhee, Umptanum Creek

April 6th

1st Saturday BirdWalkBy Tom Gauron

There were 10 people to brave the rainy weather. Spotted along the walk:

Northern Flicker • Black-billed Magpie • Bald Eagle with nest • Brown Creeper • Mourning Dove • Belted Kingfisher • European Starling • Downy Woodpecker • Tree Swallow • Osprey • Wood Duck • House Finch • American Robin • American Goldfinch • Canada Geese • Black-capped Chicadee • Red-wing blackbird

Join us May 4th for the next

1st Saturday BirdWalkIrene Rinehart Park on Umptanum Road • 8am for a 3-hour walk

Prime riparian birding as migrants vociferously vie for mates and begin to set up households. Look for swallows, warblers, vireos, and tanagers. Leaders Steve and Jan; 509-933-1179 for more info.

“In the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt.”— Margaret Atwood, Bluebeard’s Egg

GOT BINCOULARS?Consider donating a pair (or more) to KAS for their education programs with school classes and local

organizations. Contact our Education Chair, Steve Hall for more info. (See page 2)

The Hooter • May 2019 • Kittitas Audubon’s Newsletter4

Mark Your Calendars!Now through July:3rd Sundays • April-July • 9-11 am Feel the Burn Guided Hike Series at Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park: Participants will search for wildflowers, regenerating plants, birds and signs of other wildlife after three fires burned through the park last year. Attend one or all the hikes to see changes over the seasons. Be a citizen scientist—help us collect information and learn! Meet at the Backcountry Trailhead located off Vantage Highway, ½ mile down Recreation Drive. Bring wind-proof layers and sturdy hiking shoes.

May17th • Fri. • half day • Robinson Canyon. More prime riparian and pine forest birding through beautiful open woods, and May is the time to be there, for a 3-4 hour walk on woodland trails. Meet at Super One parking lot at 8am. Steve and Jan lead; 933-1179.

18th • Sat. • 10am-4pm • Gingko Petrified Forest State ParkKids to Parks Day. Junior Ranger program. Jump into Junior Ranger activities and let the kids complete their booklets to earn their Junior Ranger badge! Meet at the Interpretive Center.

19th • Sun. • 9 –11am • Ginkgo backcountry: “Feel the Burn!” survey. Join Laura Busby, State Parks interpretive specialist, to continue her survey of repopulation and revegetation of the 2018 fire that scorched 2/3rds of Ginkgo State Park. Meet at 9am at the Recreation Rd backcountry gate: turn north ¼ mile before Vantage on the Vantage highway; the gate is on the left at 300 yds. The survey is a walking exploration on dirt roadway. Call Steve for more info, 933-1179.

19th • Sun. • 9-11am • Feel the Burn #2: Scabs, Scars and Regeneration in Burned Areas. Compare burned and unburned patches for regeneration of plants and signs of animals.

June1st • Sat. • First Saturday BirdWalk. Irene Rinehart Park. Meet at 8am at Irene Rinehart riverside parking lot off Umptanum Road for a 3 hour walk. Breeding birds have arrived and are noisily nesting and raising families.

16th • Sun. • 9-11am • Feel the Burn #3: Impacts of Fire on Shrubs, Birds and Other Life. What happens to sage and other shrubs after a burn? Does loss of canopy impact other life?

JulyJuly 21 • Sun. • 9-11am • Feel the Burn #4: Survival on Fire-Scarred Lands. Explore how plants and animals survive fire and semi-desert conditions in the shrub-steppe.

Gingko Petrified Forest State Park Interpretive Center hours: 10 am to 5pm, Friday through Sunday, March 1 to May 15; 10am to 5pm daily, May 16 to Sept. 15. Tours can also be scheduled in advance by calling 509-856-2290.

The mission of Kittitas Audubon is to develop an appreciation of nature through education and conservation, with a focus on birds.

Wenas Audubon Campout You’re invited to attend a celebration of birds, bats, butterflies, botany, and the beauty of spring in eastern Washington.

The 56th Annual Wenas Audubon Campout will take place on Memorial Day Weekend (May 24-27, 2019) at the The Hazel Wolf Bird Sanctuary at the Wenas Creek Campground (SW of Ellensburg).

This casual and friendly gathering offers a variety of activities, including birding field trips, wildflower walks, field sketching, owl prowls, and campfire presentations PLUS special guest speaker, corvid researcher Dr. Kaeli Swift, Ph.D. You do not need to be an Audubon member to attend. All are welcome to this family-friendly event.

Visit the Wenas Audubon website (www.wenasaudubon.org) for directions, an outline of field trips and programming, and more information. The campout is free and open to all ages. No reservations or registrations needed; just show up, set up camp, and participate in activities.

Donations are encouraged to cover SaniCans, signage, and other administrative costs. Every vehicle must display a Washington State Discover Pass (http://www.discoverpass.wa.gov/). Barring high fire danger, campfires will be allowed.

Follow us on Facebook, too! We’ll be sharing photos and stories from past years, as well as tips from Wenas Campout pros to help make your trip a fun and memorable experience. facebook.com/wenasaudubon/

Contacts: General questions? Contact Carol Kohler, [email protected]

kittitas audubon • www.kittitasaudubon.org 5

Making Seed Balls to Help BirdsWith this simple DIY, you can spread the power of native plants far and wide.from https://www.audubon.org/news/making-seed-balls-help-birds

Seeds may just be one of nature’s coolest wonders. Humans, birds, and a whole host of other wildlife rely on these nutrient-packed incubators for food. From tiny flea-sized spinach seeds to hairy-faced coconuts, seeds come in all shapes and sizes. And, if conditions are right, they eventually grow into the flowers, foliage, and fodder that help make up the natural world. So why wouldn’t you want to spread seed love in your area? Seed balls are one way to do just that. These weapons of mass induction are a fun and easy way to beautify abandoned lots, combat invasive weeds, or spruce up your own garden. Not only will you reap what you sow, but you’ll also improve habitat for bugs, bees, and birds alike.

IngredientsClay

• Clay helps retain moisture as the seeds germinate and provides a protective outer layer from wind, hungry birds, and the harsh midday sun. Soil and seeds can be mixed right into potter’s or artist’s clay without adding water. Dry pebbles, refined clay powder, or unscented clay kitty litter can be found in most hardware stores and are considerably less pricey than artist’s clay. These dry ingredients require the addition of water to bring everything together.

Organic seed-starting soil

• Seed-starting soil or fine compost provides seedlings with nutrients until their roots manage to break into the earth. We don’t recommend using dirt from your yard, because you may end up collecting weed seeds along with it!

Native wildflower seeds

• Make sure to choose seeds of plants that are native to your area. (Avoid commercial premade seed mixes, which may include non-native species.) Which seeds should you pick? Use our native plants database to find the best plants for your area, as well as local resources to provide guidance and native seeds. If in doubt, get help from your local Audubon, native plant society, or a

You can simply place dry seed balls a few inches apart on a bare patch of soil, or toss them directly into the garden. Photo: Mike Fernandez/Audubon

Native seeds, compost, clay, and a little bit of water are all you need to make seed balls. Photo: Mike Fernandez/Audubon

reputable native plant nursery to avoid spreading weed seeds or planting invasive species.

• Ideal growing conditions are often listed on the seed packet or readily available from a native plant retailer, so be sure to plant your seed balls in a location that will give them the best chance of success.

Water

• If using pebbles, powder, or kitty litter, a little water will go a long way to bind the soil and clay together.

InstructionsMakes 12 seed balls

1. Mix 1/2 cup fine powdered clay with 1/2 cup of compost

2. Add 1/3 cup of water and stir. If the mixture it too wet, add a little more compost. It it’s too dry, add a litte more water. Aim for a “cookie dough” consistency.

3. Flatten a spoonful of the dough on your palm and add a pinch of native seed mix.

4. Pinch closed and roll into a ball. If you’re planting on a hill, flatten one side of the seed ball so it doesn’t roll away!

5. Place on a cookie sheet or piece of cardboard and allow to dry for at least three hours, or even a few days depending on conditions. You’ll know they’re done when they feel hard and dry to the touch.

6. Find an abandoned planter or a neglected patch in your garden, launch (or gently place), and watch your community transform into an oasis for wildlife, or store in a breathable bag until you’re ready to spread the flower power.

The Hooter • May 2019 • Kittitas Audubon’s Newsletter6

May 2019 • Barry Brunson, Chair, Climate Change Committee

EVs and Charging StationsMany auto manufacturers expect electric vehicles (EVs) to be a major, if not predominant, part of their future. The classic chicken-and-egg story comes to mind.

People will be reluctant to buy an EV if there aren’t places to charge them; but why should anyone build a charging station unless lots of people have EVs? Check out the 19 Mar article “Everybody Wants EV Charging Stations. Almost Nobody Wants to Build Them” by Jeremy Deaton on the EcoWatch website. Here is one quote that should inspire one to read it (and inspire one to make suggestions to one’s own local/state/national policymakers!):

In Norway, where EVs account for around a third of all new car sales, the government has gone a step further. The government is installing a fast charging station every 30 miles on main roads. EV drivers can get free charging at public stations in addition to free parking and free access to toll roads.

It includes a 98-second video, and it’s at http://tinyurl.com/y2l2p93j.

Evolution in Action…and Climate Change May AssistThe retreat of the North American glaciers 10,000 – 13,000 years ago made vast swaths of the continent newly habitable, into which ancestral juncos moved.

Regional isolation led to the several coloration differences that are visible today, differences that would seem to indicate different species. And perhaps eventually they will be. But for now, the “… regional varieties of junco will still mate and interbreed randomly wherever their ranges meet, which means they are all the same species.” For the details, and for the likely role that climate change will play in either suppressing or completing speciation, see the Hannah Walters article “Dark-eyed Juncos, Backyard Gems, Come in a Dazzling Array of Colors” in the 1 Mar 2019 Audubon at https://tinyurl.com/y5ksbtf5.

Extreme Weather and Climate Change“The only plausible explanation for the rise in weather-related catastrophes is climate change.” Thus says Munich Re, one of the world’s two largest reinsurance companies (i.e., they insure insurance companies). In recent years, being able to attribute specific extreme weather events to climate change has become more reasonable (see, e.g., the Feb 2018 Hooter Communication). Take a look at “More extreme weather tied to humans” by Carolyn Gramling in the 19 Jan 2019 Science News (I’m behind in my reading!) at https://tinyurl.com/y7o6nzzr.

As for the connection with insurance, the article includes this: “Attribution science can affect whether an event might be perceived in court as foreseeable; if so, facilities, companies or governments could be held liable for not incorporating that information into infrastructure design or best management practices.” [Note: That sentence appears in the print edition, but not in the 11 Dec 2018 online version of the article, to which the above URL points.]

Cornell Is a Great Place to Be an Ornithology StudentClick to learn more! http://www.birds.cornell.edu/students/#_ga=2.4561076.601639433.1556059427-963649494.1556059427

Why Cornell? As the home of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, no other institution of higher learning supports such a rich community of professional ornithologists, bird-savvy students, and recreational birders. Whether your goal is to build a great local year list, to take part in cutting-edge research, or simply to hang out with birder friends, Cornell is a fantastic place to make your ornithological passion part of your college experience.

Photo courtesy of the Cornell Lab.

7 kittitas audubon • www.kittitasaudubon.org 7

Kittitas Audubon Society MEMBERSHIP FORM

Name

Address

City

State Zip

Email (please print)

Phone

NEW Membership RENEWING Membership

Membership Options: KAS Individual $20 Family $30

Premium Memberships: Bluebird $50 Kestrel $75 Hawk $100 Lifetime Individual $300 Lifetime Family $500

Make a Charitable Donation: (Please enter dollar amount)

Scholarship Fund $________ Nest Boxes $________Education $________ General $________Your generous donation to a specific project is symbolic. Kittitas Audubon is a chapter of

Nation Audubon Society serving the communities of Kittitas County, Washington. Go to kittitasaudubon.org for more information. KAS is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation.

Please indicate membership preferences below:

YES I want to “Go Green” by receiving the Hooter newsletter online only

YES I wish to receive occasional emails related to Audubon activities

May we print your name in the Hooter to acknowledge your membership/donation? Yes No

GIVE THE GIFT OF KITTITAS AUDUBON! Please send gift recipient’s name, address, email, and phone to address below.

THANK YOU!

Please make checks payable to: Kittitas Audubon Society PO Box 1443 Ellensburg WA 98926

GET “THE HOOTER” ONLINESave paper, printing, postage. If you would prefer to receive

the electronic version, send your name, mailing address, and email address to: [email protected]

Each month, we’ll send you an email with a link to the new Hooter.

The KAS website has been updated! We are always happy to have our

members submit content for both the Hooter and the website.

Be sure to visit www.kittitasaudubon.org

Thank You for Your Membership!Jo Ellen Richards (Bluebird)

Vickie Nesbit & Terry Weiner (Family) Duane & Marge Skeen (Family)

Miranda Nash (Bluebird) Ellen Cafferty & Jack Bottom (Family)

Diane Jasper (Individual) Maria Barber (Individual)

Kay Elliott (Individual) Micki Akers (Individual)

Sharon Lumsden (Individual) Gloria & Hal Lindstrom (Family) Tom & Diane Gauron (Bluebird)

Hand-crafted Bluebird, Kestrel, and Barn Owl Boxes

Please contact Tom Gauron at 509.968.3175

for more information.

BOXES FOR SALE

Thursday ProgramsStart at 7:00pm • Hal Homes

May 16thBirding Trinidad and Tobago, from the Asa Wright Nature Centrewith Martyn Kenefick Home to 482 species of bird, not forgetting 68 different bats, 45 snakes, 50 spiders, 30 frogs and toads, 120 Dragonflies, 765 butterflies and close to 3,500 moths—the islands really are an introduction to the natural history of South America. Get a great taste of tropical birding in Trinidad’s high mountain rain forests, sandy beaches with nesting turtles, and mangroves with Scarlet Ibis evening roosts, as well as on Tobago’s seabird nesting islands and huge protected preserves.

PO Box 1443Ellensburg, WA 98926

Mark Your Calendars!First Saturday BirdWalksIrene Rinehart Park on Umptanum Road at 8 AM for a 3-hour walk

May 4thPrime riparian birding as migrants vociferously vie for mates and begin to set up households. Look for swallows, warblers, vireos, and tanagers. 3 hour walk. Leaders Steve and Jan; 509-933-1179 for more info.

Board MeetingsMeet at 4:30pm at the Methodist Church on the corner of 3rd and Ruby

May 2nd

Thursday Program is May 16th at 7:00pm

May 2019 Kittitas Audubon Hooter

Inland Internet Roslyn

Donates Internet service for our website:

www.kittitasaudubon.org

Old Mill Country Store Ellensburg

Provides a discount on bird seed to KAS members.

THANK YOU! KITTITAS COUNTY BUSINESS

SUPPORTING KAS!

There is lots happening now through July! Please see page

4 for a calendar of events.